06 Feb 2026
52m

662. If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying

Podcast cover

Freakonomics Radio

The podcast explores the complex history and ethics of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, focusing on the case of cyclist Floyd Landis, who was stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title for doping. Landis recounts his journey into professional cycling, the pervasive culture of doping on Lance Armstrong's team, and his eventual decision to become a whistleblower, exposing widespread drug use. The episode further examines the broader implications of anti-doping policies, featuring April Henning, who discusses the historical context of performance enhancement and the challenges of defining and regulating it. The conversation extends to the emergence of the Enhanced Games, which embraces performance enhancement, sparking debate about the future of sports and the pursuit of human limits.

Outlines

Part 1: Rules, Society, and Sports

Part 2: The Rise and Fall of Floyd Landis

Part 3: History, Whistleblowing, and Legal Battles

Part 4: Future Outlook and Moral Frameworks

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